A major drug operation worth £1 million was dismantled following the discovery of white powder concealed in a JD Sports bag. Alan Entwistle, Stephen Findley, and William Riley have been sentenced for their involvement in a sophisticated drug distribution scheme that flooded the streets of Manchester with cocaine, heroin, and amphetamines. The police uncovered 3kg of white powder, identified as cocaine, inside a JD Sports bag at Findley’s residence in Wythenshawe. Additionally, 1kg of brown and white powder, confirmed to be cocaine and amphetamine, was found in a black backpack along with drug paraphernalia such as scales in the kitchen.
Authorities observed Entwistle, 48, with three other men, including Riley, acting suspiciously near garages in Northenden. Upon investigation, eight smaller bags containing approximately 1kg of brown powder each were discovered. The police also seized digital scales and 11kg of drug adulterants like caffeine, paracetamol, and benzyl methyl ketone used for product cutting. Entwistle was responsible for preparing drugs for distribution to other dealers and safe houses.
Findley, aged 64, served as the group’s warehouse manager, while Riley was identified as a street-level dealer. An expert analysis estimated that the recovered drugs and adulterants, if processed into 0.1g deals, had a total value exceeding £1 million, potentially yielding substantial profits. The trio received their sentences at Manchester Crown Court, with Entwistle receiving a 10-year and six-month term, Findley sentenced to four years and four months, and Riley jailed for five years for their roles in the conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs.
Detective Sergeant Richard McCorry of Greater Manchester Police’s Serious Organised Crime Group commended the investigation, describing the operation as a significant criminal enterprise that inundated communities with illicit substances. McCorry emphasized the severity of the crimes and the relentless pursuit of drug traffickers. He encouraged the public to report any drug-related activities to the authorities for further action to combat organized crime networks and safeguard communities.